The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-05
A Debt Paying Religion.

Just at this time our country needs
q religion that will make man pay
his debts. Shouting don't settle old
notes and accounts with God and man
cash up. We want to pounce right
on a fellow and put him out of the
church if he goes to ball, or theatre,
or gets on Il drunk, but never says a
word to the pious scamp who never
pays his debts. Preachers and people
who never pay their debts, are doing
the church more harm than dancers
and drunkards- there are more of them
in the church. Reader, am I getting
close to you? Then lay down the pa
per and 60 and pay up, and then you
can read Oh with ease.
And don't you stop paying because
the "statute of Limitation" excuses the
open account you made for your bread
and meat-God's law knows no such
statute. You pay it in cash, or God
will make you pay it in fire and brim-
stone. God knows no such excuse
from paying as Homestead exemp-
ton" You raise that excuse to keep
from paying your debts, and you can
stop singing, "When 1 can read my
titles clear to mansions in the skies"-
you've got none up there. You may
say, "I would pay if I could" How
hard have you tried? If trying, at
this moment, could you say, II have
done all in my power?" Have you
tried to save little each week or
month for debts? Are you spending
no money for things to eat and wear
that you could not do without? How
much do you spend per year for cigars
s. nd tobacco? Make your calculation.
Do you eat dainties and luxuries :?
Palmer diet would keep you from
making doctors bills that you won't
pay, and bring up bank accounts. Do
YOU strut about with an umbrella over
your head, while your creditor walks
in the broiling sun? Don't you cut
shines in hired turn-outs (may be they
are not paid for) when you might
walk, and use the money to make
YOUR creditor smile? A palmer suit
would be more becoming Till you can
nav for those worn out last season.
When expenses not necessary for the
feeding and clothing of the body are
cut off and applied to the payment Of
debts, then YOU grow in favor with
God, and not till then does God ex-
cuse you. Repentance on this point
must be of that Cody sort that need
e:h not to be repented of. Reader,
were you sorry that you had not paid
debts when you made profession Of
religion? If you were not, that is
lust why you have not got debt-pay-
ing religion. True repentance has a
retroactive as we'll as well as pros
pective effect on the life of the believ-
er. He will, as far as possible, make
good his past wrongs. Many new con-
verts sing, Jesus paid it all, all to
Him owe" No such thing! Jesus
did not pay it all-neither do you owe
it all to Him. If the week before you
were converted you owed ten dollars
and you were able to ray it, and you
owe that neighbor ten dollars yet, Je-
sus did not pay that for you. If you
don't pay that debt, it will meet you at
your Judgment just as sure as you are
sinner. It is mean in you to expect
Jesus to pay debts for you that you
can pay yourself. If you have a
Christian heart in you, think how
much Jesus paid for you that you new
er could have met at Gods bar of in
flexible Justice. Some people think
that the cleansing stream of Jesus
blood washed Sinai away and deluged
the law-no such thing! Jesus came
not to destroy, but to fulfill, and gave
grace that we through Him might full
fill. Jesus everywhere enforces the
Commandments as the rule of life.
At the close of our great revival at
Fifth st. Church, two years ago, a
number of young men came to me to
know if they ought to go and pay bills
that they had made at bar-rooms for
whisky, &C. I told them to cove
them nothing" "let not your good be
evil spoken of''-give the devil his
dues. All of those young men, save
one or two, went and paid up those
bad debts, and have had no more.
Those who could not see that it was
their duty to pay those debts, have re-
turned to their old paths, and their
second state is worse than the first.
Then let the whole church pray for
a revival of the debt-paying religion.
In every revival let prayers be made
that the new converts may have grace
to pay up old debts, and not contract
new ones, without good probability of
paying them. Let the ministry en-
force this duty publicly and privately,
with discretion J and great good can
be accomplished. If the preachers
would look after this matter of debt
paying among their congregations,
their own debts might be more prompt
ly paid-chickens come home to roost.
Both preacher and people need to be
more cautious, prayerful and PLAYFUL
about this line. The great necessity
of the present time is confidence
among the people. Let the church de-
mand and command her membership
to live up to their promises and con-
tracts, and soon present financial dark
ness will give way to brighter morn
of prosperity to all business circles.
Keep the Amen corners and front seats
clear of members who can and won't
pay their debts, (the pulpit, too,) and
the Word preached will reach sinners.
May God give increase to these words
which are written for the promotion of
His kingdom in the practical dealings
with men.
Rev. D. H. FUTILE.
Wilmington, N. c.